Our Last Moments

Interlude 2

Trigger Warning: this chapter will include a scene of self-harm. If you're struggling with depression, self-harm, and experience suicidal thoughts, please be warned.

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"Techi stop!! What are you doing?!" Her yell stopped her action right away.

Hirate turned around with a confused look, "Huh?"

"You can't feed the ducks, look!" Neru pointed at the sign placed at the edge of the lake, "It's prohibited."

"But they're hungry."

"The bread might not be good for them!"

"It's just bread, Neru!" Hirate defended herself, then continues gesturing to the ducks to approach her, offering the shredded white bread in her hand. 

"Come here, ducks.. Come here.." She got on her knees to get closer to the aquatic birds, ignoring the humans who were looking at her.

Shida suddenly put her arms on Neru's shoulder from the back, "Nee, Neru. Chillax.. okay? Let the kid play.."

"It's been awhile seeing her having fun like this," Yuuka said with a wide smile on her face.

Neru finally yielded, deciding to let her be. The sight of her smiling and laughing, running around in an open area like that, was a rare sight for everyone. Neru couldn't help to feel merry as well.

It's was a nice weather that weekend where some of the girls spend their time at the zoo. It was unusual for Hirate to ask for something, but she was actually the one who requested to go there, and of course, the older members has no choice but to grant it. It made them feel happy to see the youngest happy.

It was a well-deserved quality time after weeks of intensive practice and classes at the academy. They all planned to just have fun, and to forget any responsibilities they had to face in front of them just for the day.

Having met various animals for the past couple hours, they decided to stop for lunch. Hirate was sitting next to Neru when suddenly her phone rang. 

"Hai?"
"Yes, speaking."
"Just having lunch. What's up?"

Neru secretly trying to hear Hirate's conversation with whoever it was who called her, but she didn't get any idea.

"Sure. We can talk."

Hirate got up from her seat and excused herself from the group. She went outside the restaurant to properly talk with the one on the phone. Neru slowly followed her from behind.

She waited for Hirate to talk while leaning back to the wall, creating some distance between them to let Hirate have some privacy. A few minutes later, Hirate ended the phone call with a sigh. 

She turned around to face Neru, "I have to go home."

"Home?"

"My hometown. They want me to testify for the trial."

"Why?"

"I don't know, some stupid reason.."

Of course, Hirate wasn't sounding very happy about it. The trial for her parents' divorce had been going for quite some time, she wished she could completely shun from it. But of course, it was her parents after all, there was no way she could do it.